Rafael van der Vaart blog: Gravenberch can be better than Bellingham
Tools are there for Gravenberch to go right to the top
I took quite a lot of stick when I said Ryan Gravenberch has the potential to be better than Jude Bellingham a year or so ago, but I stand by it.
I’ve always said the sky's the limit for him if he can use his full potential and ability, so I’m not surprised by how good he’s been this season both for Liverpool and the Netherlands.
Arne Slot has found a spot for him in the team at Liverpool and he’s thriving – you just have to look at the pass he played against Germany on Tuesday to show this is a player who has everything required to go right to the top.
He’s strong, quick and intelligent – Liverpool fans should be very excited about what’s to come.
Slot perfect for Liverpool – just surprised another big club didn’t snap him up first
A lot of people didn’t know too much about Slot before he came to Liverpool but I’m his biggest fan and have been for a long time. Some of the football his Feyenoord team played was unbelievable, particularly as he did with only okay players.
It’s such a good choice from Liverpool because, for a club as big as them, it’s so easy to go and find a big, household name that everyone knows but they’ve gone for someone that very few in England had heard of.
I’ve met him a few times and the thing that really struck me was that when he talks you believe what he says. It’s always nice when a coach is honest and everything they say is genuine – I think a lot of Liverpool fans have already noticed that with Slot. I’m really surprised no other big clubs came in for him.
Jurgen Klopp did so well for such a long time with many of the players Slot has inherited and the fact he’s getting the quality performances out of them so early on shows what a good coach he is.
Look at Mohamed Salah – he’s happy, he’s smiling and he really looks like he’s enjoying his football again. That wasn’t always the case last season but Slot has come in and almost made him look like a new signing.
North London Derby like no other game
I was very lucky to play in some big games like El Clasico, but the North London Derby is very unique.
The Clasico is the biggest game in the world on a linear level with so many people watching it around the world. However, I never felt the rivalry in the stadium like I did in the North London Derby.
You can feel what it means to the fans of each club – I remember the year we won at the Emirates people were crying! The passion is like nothing else I ever experienced.
When we came from 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2 in 2010, I’ve never been in a dressing room like it – the atmosphere was crazy. I remember we came in at half-time and some of the team were almost crying, that’s how bad we had been.
But 45 minutes later it was the total opposite – it was the best feeling ever.
Arsenal issues give Spurs a big chance
I give Tottenham a real chance on Sunday. It doesn’t matter what team you are, if you lose two or three really good players, particularly all in the same position, it makes things really hard and I really think Spurs can take advantage of it.
If there’s ever a time for Spurs to show what they are about this it’s now and it’s the sort of result Ange [Postecoglou] needs to show that he’s a manager that can take Tottenham to the next level.
Liverpool bigger title rivals to City than Arsenal
Many think Arsenal will be the ones to serve it up to Manchester City, but I don’t agree. City and Liverpool look the two best sides to me.
It’s so hard to keep going again and again, season after season, and I look at the Arsenal team in the long-term and worry about them. I can’t see Arsenal winning the Premier League this season.
I was really impressed by Liverpool when they beat Manchester United – they looked so stable and everything looked very easy. City are definitely the favourites, but don’t write off Liverpool.
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